Ah, yes, that was a short chapter. But this one will be longer, and.. return of the mind dialogue! Yay! I knew you would all be excited.

A huge thank you to Xikum, Xirleb70- yes, insightful! Very insightful, my dear!, Iniysa, Atari420, Lady Lightning, Calani, Singing-Bluebird, athenakitty- glad you agree!, charma1219, and kateydidnt. Thank you all soooo soooo much!

Again, I don't own Harry Potter or any of his sidekicks.

Here we go!

~~~***~~~

After buying his books, and enduring multiple bewildered stares from the clerk after seeing a Dark Charms book, Harry met Dumbledore in the front of the store.

"What did you have to get?" asked Dumbledore.

"Something for a bit of light reading," replied Harry. It felt terrible to lie to his headmaster, but it was imperative that no one know what he was plotting. For some reason, it had to be kept a secret.

For a moment, Harry wondered why he was going to such secrecy.

Because Dumbledore wouldn't want you to do this.

SNAPE!

What? It's not like I'm going to tell anybody, Potter. Who could I possibly tell? I think it's a good idea, by the way.

Are you COMPLIMENTING me?

Of course not.

Yes you are.

You're greatly mistaken, child. But it is a decent idea. It might work. I'm just not sure that you're going to find a spell that will destroy the body and soul, even in a Dark Charms book.

I know I won't. I've never heard of a spell like this.

So what are you planning on doing?

Making one up. Combining the killing curse and a spell to destroy the soul.

Only experienced and highly specialized charms wizards can combine spells like that. Don't be an idiot, Potter.

I think I can do it.

You're not your mother. Lily was the only one beside Flitwick that could ever make up those charms.

I know I'm not my mother. But I really think I can do this. I've been studying advanced charms in the past few days as well.

Advanced charms isn't going to teach you how to create a spell more powerful than the killing curse.

Can you ever be decent? I am trying, Professor. I'm trying to help you. The least you could do is to stop being so hypercritical and depressing.

I'll consider it.

You'd better.

Oh, and I thoroughly enjoyed your little explosion at Mr. Weasley. It was highly amusing.

Just how long have you been in my head, Snape?

Since you came to Diagon Alley.

I hate you.

I know.

So you heard all those thoughts about.. about?

About how incredibly insecure and worried you are about being yourself? And how you're bitter that you'll have to go back to being a carbon copy of James Potter? Yes, I heard that.

This mind thing is a curse. I'm sure you take great amounts of pleasure in listening to my inner turmoil.

Of course.

Why are you here?

To drive you crazy.

It's working. But really, what do you want? Surely you didn't just come here for a social conversation.

None of your business, Potter.

Oh, well if it's none of my business, get out of my head. Now.

As you wish.

***~~~***

Severus Snape was back in his cell. Since he hadn't been in a great amount of pain lately, as Voldemort seemed to have turned his attention to other things, Snape now had the strength to open his eyes and look around.

Potter had been right, he was laying in his own blood.

Severus fought the urge to hurl. The only thing worse than being in a pool of blood was being in a pool of blood and vomit.

The potions master was confused. Truly, ridiculously confused. He knew that he had lied to Harry. He hadn't taken any pleasure in Harry's lack of self-confidence or his bitter thoughts. The only thing that he had even halfway enjoyed was Potter's explosion at Ron, because it was so.. not Potter.

Harry would never explode at his friends, because he was too worried about hurting their feelings or making Weasley angry. No, Potter wouldn't yell. But he would. Severus would.

He had to admit to himself that he was actually somewhat glad that Harry was- beyond the obvious physical aspects- kind of like him. It made him feel complete, somehow.

But then again, this was Potter. He hated Potter. Didn't he? Or had he hated Harry because he hated James? Because he felt betrayed by Lily? Because Harry should have been his?

No! Potter was not his son. Potter would never be his son. Severus Snape didn't have children. He didn't have a family. His role as a spy kept him from Lily, the one person he had ever truly loved. And now that he wasn't a spy, he was going to die before he ever had a chance. Despite Potter's incredible talent and good intentions, Severus had a growing dread that Harry wouldn't get there in time. Or, if he did get there, that Potter would be killed.

Severus wasn't sure which idea hurt him more.

~~~***~~~

Back at Hogwarts, Harry walked to the hospital wing in his new black robed. He had been asked to go to the library for more training with Dumbledore, but he wasn't ready to go there, not yet. He needed to start looking through his new book.

There was a chance that in less than two days, he would be at the Riddle House. A small chance, but a chance nonetheless. Harry had to be ready if he was to complete his plan.

Harry opened the ancient book. It wasn't a huge book; it was a medium-sized black notebook with a hundred spells at best. But Harry knew that it would be in there. The spirit curse, Anima Interficio. Merlin's curse. Merlin was the last wizard in history who was powerful enough to perform the spell, and even he could only complete it successfully on small animals. But Harry thought it was at least worth a try.

Anima Interficio was meant to get rid of a creature's soul, much like the Dementor's Kiss. The curse had lain forgotten since Merlin had died centuries ago, which was incredibly fortunate. It Voldemort had ever gotten a hold of it..

Harry shivered at the thought as he turned the page. Yes, there it was. Anima Interficio. The death of the soul. Written in.. parseltongue?

'To kill the spirit, listen here, lest my curse fall on deaf ears. Point your wand, tap, 1, 2, 3, and say the words that flow through thee:

Anima Interficio.

Spin your wand and point to him, his soul will die and you will live.'

Harry gasped. It was so.. weird. So easy, and so terribly wrong. But it would have to do.

Harry opened his advanced charms book and started looking for ways to combine spells.